Module 19 — Playing Melodies by Ear
This module is about getting from:
“I know how the tune sounds”
to:
“I can find it on the piano quickly.”
The key shift is:
Don’t search for isolated notes. Hear scale degrees, direction, and destination.
19.1First find the tonicBefore hunting for the melody, ask:19.2The first note is not necessarily the tonicA melody in C major might begin on:19.3Think in numbersIn C:19.4Hear direction firstBefore asking:19.5Step versus leapNext distinction:19.6Sing before touching the pianoThis is important.19.7Work in very short fragmentsDon't try to find eight bars at once.19.8Find the rhythm separatelySometimes pitch hunting becomes difficult because you're solving pitch and rhythm simultaneously.19.9Identify repeated notesRepeated notes are easy landmarks.19.10Use phrase-end notes as anchorsThe end of a phrase is often harmonically important.19.11Learn the sound of scale degree 1Play C major.19.12Relative pitch versus perfect pitchYou do not need to know:19.13Learn scale-degree personalitiesIn a major key:19.14Hear 7 → 1In C:19.15Hear 4 → 3C major:19.16Hear 5 → 1C:19.17Hear 3 → 1C:19.18Solfège can help youSince you learned fixed-do, keep that system for absolute note names:19.19Sing the major scale by degreeIn any key:19.20Random degree drillPlay C as tonic.19.21Don't train intervals only as abstract songsTraditional ear training may say:19.22Still learn interval sizeYou need rough interval recognition:19.23Stepwise melody is easierSuppose you know the key is C.19.24Leaps often land on chord tonesA larger melodic leap frequently goes toward a chord tone.19.25Use the harmony to predict melody notesIf chord is C major:19.26Find melody against one tonic droneHold low C.19.27Use only white keys at firstIf you know the melody can be placed in C major or A minor, use white keys.19.28Transpose immediatelySuppose you found:19.29Find the tonic from the final note—but verifyMany simple songs end on tonic.19.30Find the key from the dominantIf you hear a note/chord strongly wanting to resolve somewhere, that can reveal 5 → 1.19.31Major or minor?Once you suspect tonic, listen for the third.19.32Natural minor melody degreesIn A minor:19.33Recognize leading tone in minorA minor:19.34Use mistake directionSuppose you guess E but melody sounds slightly higher.19.35Avoid repeated random key pressingBad workflow:19.36Keep your hand away from the piano for a momentFor difficult phrases, sing:19.37Write numbers, not lettersWhen transcribing a familiar melody, first write:19.38Rhythm notation can be informalYou don't have to write full notation immediately.19.39Find phrase skeleton before ornamentationA singer may decorate a melody heavily.19.40Distinguish melody from embellishmentAsk:19.41Recognize repeated motifsIf phrase 2 resembles phrase 1, don't solve it from zero.19.42Predict before listening againIf phrase begins:19.43Familiar-song exerciseChoose a song you know extremely well.19.44Start with children's/simple songs for ear trainingNot because they are musically beneath you, but because they isolate the skill.19.45“Twinkle” exampleIn major:19.46“Ode to Joy” exampleCore opening:19.47“Happy Birthday” openingIn degree terms, approximately:19.48Ear-training intervals through scale degreesPractice:19.49Then reversePractice:19.50Especially train 2, 4, 6, 71, 3, and 5 are easy because they form tonic triad.19.51Chord-tone testIf you're unsure of a melody note, play the likely chord quietly.19.52Use bass as another referenceIf bass is C and melody sounds a major third above it:19.53Melody notes are often chord extensionsDon't assume a melody note must belong to triad.19.54Transcribing jazz melodiesFor jazz, use this order:19.55Transcribing singersA singer may:19.56You can deliberately choose the keyWhen playing alone, there's no requirement to reproduce the recording's original key.19.57Hearing harmony inside melodySuppose a melody in C uses:19.58Internal hearingA crucial skill is hearing the next note before playing it.19.59Silent keyboard exerciseLook at the keyboard.19.60Sing a degree, then find itChoose key C.19.61Let wrong notes teach youIf you predicted 5 but the real note is 6, notice the difference.19.62Daily five-minute degree drillChoose one key.19.63Daily melody drillChoose one simple phrase from memory.19.64The end goalEventually you want to hear something like:•Homework for Module 19Choose C, G, F, D.•Module 19 mini-test1. Why is finding the tonic more useful than immediately finding every absolute note?